Free Silver Lies by Ann Parker Page B

lamplight sparkled off the windblown snow and smashed glass. The scales were a tangled mess of metal, their casings broken. The air smelled acidic, and the tall cabinets gaped open, glass doors destroyed. Notes and paper littered the floor. Drawers yanked from under countertops and emptied lay every which way. Only a medium-sized black safe, tucked in one corner, appeared undisturbed.

Inez closed her eyes, unable to keep the Silver Queen’s recent disarray from crossing her mind. "Oh no!"

Susan grabbed her arm. "Who would have done this? We’d better get the marshal."

"And what do you think he will do?" Inez retorted. "Nothing! We’d better look around now, while we have a chance."

The lamplight danced over the walls. "What do you think happened?"

"My guess is someone was looking for something. Whether they found it is hard to say. The office is untouched, and the safe looks secure."

Inez spied a trash barrel under the sink, still half full. She pulled it out and tipped it over, spilling debris and adding to the chaos underfoot. Digging through bits of rubbish— rubber tubing, paper, rags—she touched something more solid than the rest. Inez pulled out a loosely wrapped bundle. The paper gave way and a stiff black form thudded at her feet.

Susan’s shriek was loud enough to break any remaining glassware.

"What is that?"

Inez clutched reflexively at the revolver in her pocket, her palm damp in the leather glove. She forced calm she didn’t feel into her tone, as if she were trying to soothe a panicked

horse. "A rat. A dead rat."

"Ugh!"

Inez gingerly nudged the rat with the toe of her shoe.

"Inez, what are you doing? "

This rat hadn’t keeled over from cold or starvation. A gash pierced its plump body, stomach to back. The brown fur was stiff with dried gore. The eyes were sunken, nearly gone. Small yellow teeth shone dully.

Far behind them, the front door banged shut. Both women jumped.

"Who’s there?" a gruff voice demanded.

Inez slid into the shadow of the rear door, revolver trained on the hall. Susan gripped the lamp tighter as a shape materialized from the corridor.

"Abe, you old fool, I almost shot you!" Inez slumped against the wall, feeling weak at the knees.

"Looks like Miss Susan was ’bout ready to throw the lamp at me as well." Abe looked around the laboratory. "Loooord have mercy."

"Mr. Jackson. It didn’t sound like you." Susan leaned against the countertop.

Abe eyed the two women. "I suppose you didn’t think of doin’ something sensible-like, like, say, sendin’ for the marshal."

"He’ll have his turn soon enough." Inez slumped further, feeling drained.

"Who’ll have their turn?" Another voice echoed from the corridor.

Susan’s shriek faded to a squeak as Nils Hansen stepped forward. The tall Swede, wrapped in a worn waterproof and carrying a scuffed saddlebag, scratched his jaw as if the stubble along his jaw itched. The blonde beard mixed with a mustache so light it was nearly invisible. He took in the destruction. "What happened?"

Inez stepped forward. "Where’ve you been? My hired help scoured the town for you yesterday."

"I was on my claim. I don’t waste my time or money in honky-tonks." Nils’ voice trailed off at the gun in her hand and the knife in Abe’s. "What’s going on?"

"Joe’s dead." Inez watched for his reaction.

It wasn’t what she’d expected.

Nils nodded once. And turned to leave, muttering.

Inez grabbed a corner of his saddlebag. "What did you say?"

He didn’t look at her. "God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

"We don’t need platitudes," snapped Inez. "We need help! You’re Joe’s assistant. You can tell us what he was up to before he died."

Nils eased the bag from her grip. "He was probably up to no good. But I’m not the one to say. I quit after Joe got back from Denver. I work at Kelley’s assay house now."

Inez stared at his retreating back. All she could muster was "Well!"

Abe’s